Theory of Planned Behavior

TPB and Smoking

TPB has been found to be highly predictive of smokers' intention to quit, explaining almost 50% of the variance in behavioral intentions. Perceived behavioral control emerged as the strongest factor influencing intention to quit. The theory was also found to predict smokers' attempt to quit in the following 6 months. But this time behavioral intention, and not perceived behavioral control, emerged as a significant influencing factor. TPB, however, was unable to predict the length of smoke-free status among those who had quit. This inability to predict the success of a cessation attempt has been supported in other research as well.

SOURCE: Norman, P., Conner, M., & Bell, R. (1999). The Theory of Planned Behavior and smoking cessation. Health Psychology, 18(1), 89–94.